Become a School Psychologist

At a Glance:

Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities;
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); approved by Teacher Standards and Practices Commission of the state of Oregon

Location

Portland Center (near Tigard)

Application Deadlines

Early October (spring semester); Early February (summer semester); Early May (fall semester)

*All stated financial information is subject to change.

Careers in school psychology

School psychologists work with individual students and groups of students to deal with behavioral problems, academic difficulties, disabilities, and other issues. They also work with teachers and parents to develop techniques to deal with home and classroom behavior. Other tasks include training students, parents, and teachers about how to manage crisis situations and substance abuse problems.

George Fox’s Educational Specialist in School Psychology (EdS) program equips you to work effectively with K-12 children, their families, and the school system to assist each child to be successful in his/her learning and interpersonal relationships.

Employment Outlook

Graduates of the program can expect favorable job prospects, according to U.S. News & World Report, which ranked school psychology No. 14 on its “100 Best Jobs of 2013” list. In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 22 percent for the occupation by 2020.

Licensure

The degree prepares students to sit for the Praxis II: School Psychologist specialization test. The program is approved by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC).

Course requirements

The EdS in School Psychology program is generally three to four years in length with 61 semester hours of course work required as a minimum for graduation. The program is designed for full-time study, with the first two to three years in classroom course work and the last year in a full-time internship in a public school. All classes are held at the university’s Portland Center location.